The Formula V1 race car has a truly analog nature, with no driver aids, that puts the emphasis on individual skill–and this raw driving feel is what a trio of stars experienced firsthand in the first ever Giti-Formula V1 Level Up Challenge! These race-proven celebs are battling for bragging rights as well as P50,000 for the charity of their choice.

We aren’t letting our drivers get into the V1 without some quality coaching. Current competitors Dominic Roque and Gaby dela Merced split coaching duties for the Level Up Challenge. Dom is in charge of showing Phoem and Jinno the ropes, while Gaby takes care of Sam. Teaching fellow drivers was also a fairly new challenge for both of them, let’s see who pulled off being a mentor the best in Episode 5!

Episode 6 premieres tomorrow, September 29, on ESPN5’s Sportscenter Philippines and back here on tuasonracing.com so stay tuned!

The Formula V1 race car has a truly analog nature, with no driver aids, that puts the emphasis on individual skill–and this raw driving feel is what a trio of stars experienced firsthand in the first ever Giti-Formula V1 Level Up Challenge! These race-proven celebs are battling for bragging rights as well as P50,000 for the charity of their choice.

Our third and final contestant is TV and radio host, Sam YG! Another veteran of the Vios Cup, Sam is a self-proclaimed car guy and tells us he has all the needed attributes to win. And he delivers it in the humorous way that only he can in Episode 5 of the Level Up Challenge:

Episode 5 premieres tomorrow, September 28, on ESPN5’s Sportscenter Philippines and back here on tuasonracing.com so stay tuned!

One point separates the top two contenders in the Pro Class of the 2019 Giti-Formula V1 Challenge and Growl-Thule’s Jussi Hoikka sits in third–ready to take advantage of Round 3’s double points system to haul in the lead!

After going through some teething problems in Round 1 (complete with an overnight sprint by his techs to fix a gearbox!) and some intense battles in Round 2 that saw him miss a podium finish by a hair, Hoikka will definitely be ready to come back in winning form for the third round.

Could we be seeing a repeat of last season’s dramatic championship grab by then third-placed Luis Gono during the final races of the season? We’ll be sure to keep an eye on the Finnish driver as he aims for one last charge up the table!

We wish Jussi best of luck at Round 3 at CIS on October 19-20!

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Phoenix Pulse together with Tuason Racing presents the Giti-Formula V1 Challenge 2019. Supported by Giti Tires Philippines, West Race Cars Japan, OMP, AEG Powertools, Phoenix Accelerate, Oakley, Rota with Media Partners Philippine Daily Inquirer, Autocar, Wheels PH, Jamesdeakin.ph, C! Mag, AutoIndustriya, ESPN5

The Formula V1 race car has a truly analog nature, with no driver aids, that puts the emphasis on individual skill–and this raw driving feel is what a trio of stars experienced firsthand in the first ever Giti-Formula V1 Level Up Challenge! These race-proven celebs are battling for bragging rights as well as P50,000 for the charity of their choice.

Next up is sports anchor Jinno Rufino! Does he have an advantage as a self-proclaimed “part-time race car driver?” Jinno has a few seasons of seat time under his belt, but he was still pretty impressed with his first drive in the country’s only homegrown formula car. See his thoughts in Episode 3:

Episode 4 premieres next Friday, September 27, on ESPN5’s Sportscenter Philippines and back here on tuasonracing.com so stay tuned!

The Formula V1 race car has a truly analog nature, with no driver aids, that puts the emphasis on individual skill–and this raw driving feel is what a trio of stars experienced firsthand in the first ever Giti-Formula V1 Level Up Challenge! These race-proven celebs are battling for bragging rights as well as P50,000 for the charity of their choice.

Up first is influencer and celebrity host Phoem Baranda! She gives us her feedback on the V1, racing, and what she thinks about the concept of a “lady driver” on track in a sport that is traditionally full of males! You’ll love what she has to say, so watch it below:

Episode 3 premieres tomorrow, September 22, on ESPN5’s Sportscenter Philippines and back here on tuasonracing.com so stay tuned!

The Formula V1 race car has a truly analog nature, with no driver aids, that puts the emphasis on individual skill–and this raw driving feel is what a trio of stars experienced firsthand in the first ever Giti-Formula V1 Level Up Challenge! These race-proven celebs are battling for bragging rights as well as P50,000 for the charity of their choice.

But before we meet the stars though, let’s first meet the car itself. Tuason Racing founder and CEO, JP Tuason, gives us a tour of what goes on underneath the V1’s fiberglass shell in Episode 1 of the Level Up Challenge!

Episode 2 premieres tomorrow, September 21, on ESPN5’s Sportscenter Philippines and back here on tuasonracing.com so stay tuned!

Rupert Crook is our race steward for the 2019 Giti-Formula V1 Challenge, he’s in charge of reviewing race incidents, settling disputes, and making sure all drivers compete within the rules. That’s because he’s quite the expert himself!

With over 30 years of racing and instructing experience, Rupert is ideally qualified to discuss all matters relating to fast cars. He has raced single seaters, saloon cars, GT cars and even Group C Le Mans cars. He’s worked with many manufacturers was a Performance Driving Instructor with Aston Martin for over 10 years, traveling and teaching all over the world.

He’s settled down and been living in the Philippines for the past five years though, and he’s eager to share his expertise with you in our #TRTECH series. Information for someone who wants to reach the next level with their car and maybe even head to track for the first time!

Let’s start off with one of the basics for a trackday: setting the proper tire pressure.

“The tyre pressures you run on a race track will have a massive impact on your car’s handling and on its tire wear, so it’s worth spending some time getting this right.”

Let’s assume you are using your car’s standard road tires and taking your car onto a track for the first time. In case you are wondering, with normal road driving you should run your tires at the manufacturer’s recommended pressures–they have spent millions of dollars in conjunction with tire manufacturers, to provide you with a tire that operates in all circumstances and additionally gives you a long and trouble free life.

But you are about to push this to the limit, and beyond!

As you drive around a track, at greater speed than you would normally be doing, your tyres will get warm, the air inside them expands–and consequently your tire pressures will rise. The hotter the tire, the greater the pressure. The trick is to find the best tyre pressure–for your car–on each particular track.

1. Start with a lower pressure

I recommend starting 3psi lower than the manufacturer’s recommended pressure on a cold tire before you set off out onto the track. Build your speed for a couple of laps and then come into the pits. Check each tire’s pressure as quickly as possible and write each one down–ideally you are aiming for a pressure around 5psi above the road recommendation.

2. Check for sidewall scuffing

Pitting in is also a good time to see how the tread of the tyre is scuffed. If the sidewall is becoming scuffed increase the tire pressure as you need to make the tire stiffer. On the other hand if only the centre of the tire is scuffed–and it doesn’t cover the whole tread–reduce the tire pressure. You are aiming for an even scuff or wear across the whole tyre.

3. The feeling of Under/Overinflating

You will very quickly notice if your tires are under or overinflated as the car will feel dramatically unstable. An overinflated tire reduces the contact patch between the tire and the tarmac–bear in mind that this is only about the size of your hand! 

The result is worse traction, less grip and reduced braking performance, which is magnified in the wet. A similar feeling is created by an underinflated tyre. The car will feel unstable and grip levels and braking distances will be affected.

4. Different tire pressures front and rear?

Different car manufacturers would recommend different tire pressures on the front and on the rear of your car. Why? Front tire pressures are commonly higher than the rears, to compensate for the extra weight of the engine and transmission–especially in front wheel drive cars.

An obvious exception to this are BMW or other rear wheel drive cars. Always check the manufacturer’s recommendations–usually on a sticker inside the driver’s door, or in the handbook.

5. Don’t be afraid to ask!

Trackday people are usually very friendly and helpful. If you see someone with the same car as you, who looks to know what they are doing, and is going pretty well go and have a chat. Ask what pressures he is running–it may just point you in the right direction!

And a fun story about using the wrong tire pressure on purpose…

Heavier cars will run a higher pressure than lightweight cars but I recall putting the front tire pressure up to 60psi on a racing Mini many years ago–for one flying lap it was superb and usually guaranteed a pole position!

A very light car, on extremely small wheels, the idea was an experiment to make the car “float” in the corners. Very little braking was required–rather we flung the car sideways into a corner, thus scrubbing off speed, and could power the car through the corner, thus carrying superb exit speed. Yes, for sure it murdered the tires but the way it danced around the track was really great fun and it looked pretty spectacular!

However the downside was that the tires wore ridiculously quickly and were virtually unusable after one lap. So only to set a qualifying time!

And remember, probably the biggest adjustment you can make to improve tire wear is, you, the driver. Avoid sliding the tires, especially in the corners, avoid locking up the wheels under braking, and drive as smoothly as possible. It will pay you in lap times, overall speed and in sheer satisfaction!

With six races of Formula V1 action under his belt, it’s safe to say Phoenix’s Young Driver’s Program winner, Raffy Rabe, is definitely not the same racer that he was at the start of the 2019 season. With a podium finish already secured, the next-generation superstar shares his thoughts on his personal growth so far and how he’s looking forward to ending the season on a high by securing all the double points he can get in Round 3!

You have six races of experience now, are there still rookie jitters or nerves for you?

To be honest, yes, I still get nervous because we are nearing the end of the season. Since I was able to bag a podium finish during the last race weekend it gives the expectation that I would be able to do it again consistently! Although I can say that my nervousness isn’t as much as the first race weekend–I’m definitely more confident now.

After two rounds, what memorable lessons have you learned about the non-driving part of being a racer?

I have learned so much that I can’t explain everything! It’s so different from when I was racing with my own car in a different league. A major thing is that I have a whole team now: a pit crew, a coach, mechanics, and all other kinds of stuff such as the data loggers–I can see where exactly I’m getting faster or slower and it’s a great help because I never had those before.

What do you think of the reverse grid and double points system that will take effect in Round 3?

The reverse grid positions that would take effect in Round 3 would greatly help in creating a tighter and more intense race. It would show true driving skills because the overall 1st placer would have to overtake a lot more now rather than just having a good start and holding the lead from there!

The double points would really help me and the others who are chasing a top three finish for the season. If I were to get a podium finish and those ranking ahead of me don’t, there’s a possibility I could decrease the gap and place 2nd or 3rd in the season results–and this goes for all the drivers as well.

When it comes to car parts, there’s a big difference in pricing among the three–using a Subaru’s stud bolts for example–and a clear difference in quality too.

When it comes to parts as small and “uncool” like these bolts for your wheels, which level of parts do you go for? To help you decide, here are some photos for your direct comparison.

Owners usually follow the same reasoning for choosing one of the three.

• Replacement: If they last a year that’s okay–I can replace them twice and still spend less than using OEM parts.
• OEM: The manufacturer (and their R&D) knows best.
• Aftermarket: The OEM part failed and I want something that won’t let me down again.

Which school of thought do you follow when it comes to your ride?

Saying the past two rounds of the Giti-Formula V1 Challenge, presented by Tuason Racing and Phoenix Pulse, have been intense is an understatement. Over six races, we’ve seen new young talent rise, hard-fought veteran duels, unexpected eliminations, an extremely tight title race, and, last but not least, tons of quality wheel-to-wheel action from the highest tier of racing in the country. And they’re about to heat things up even more as they go all-out in Round 3!

When the homegrown formula series with one of the largest grids in the country heads back to Clark International Speedway on October 19-20, its ranks will have grown even more with the entry of Vietnam’s experienced Rich Pham–a modern gentleman racer with a background in formula racing.

In the Pro Class, title contenders Ryo Yamada and Estefano Rivera are currently separated by a single point in favor of the Japanese driver after Rivera’s dramatic win in the rain at the end of Round 2.

With Round 3’s reverse grid and double points system in play though, anything could still happen. AM Class leader and 16-year old revelation, Alex Brown, sits third overall and could easily leap past the duo in a similar manner to the young Luis Gono snatching the crown in 2018!

A Formula Masters test at Sepang with Eurasia Motorsports awaits–a prize that ties in with Formula V1’s goal to be a stepping stone for Filipino racers to compete in global motorsports.

And there is also the grand prize: a coveted race at Suzuka Circuit against the Formula V1 and Vita champions of Japan awaits the series winner. We expect nothing less than 101% from all the racers in October who want to secure the race of a lifetime! See you at CIS on October 19-20!

The Giti-Formula V1 Challenge is also supported by West Race Cars Japan, OMP, AEG Powertools, Phoenix Accelerate, Rota, Oakley, Eurasia and Don Papa Rhum.